Shakib gets away from punishment despite bio-bubble breach

Despite breaching the bio-secure bubble during the ongoing Bangbandhu Dhaka Premier Division Twenty20 Cricket League, Shakib Al Hasan, and his team Mohammedan Sporting Club got away from any punishment that the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had earlier announced.

Kazi Inam Ahmed, the chairman of the Cricket Committee of Dhaka Metropolis (CCDM), said that they will issue a notice to Shakib and Mohammedan asking them to obey the rules of the bio-secure bubble during the remaining part of the league.

"We have held a hearing on June 8 about the recent breach of the bio-secure bubble of the Dhaka League. The incident had taken place during a practice session of Mohammedan," Kazi Inam told in a video message sent to the media by BCB. 

Along with the CCDM chairman, the technical director of the league, Jalal Yunus, BCB CEO, Nizam Uddin Chowdhury, member secretary of CCDM, Ali Hossain, the top management of Mohammedan and Shakib were among the participants of the hearing which took place virtually. 

"Mohammedan accepted that the breach was an unfortunate act by them. They also offered an apology. We are looking forward to hosting the remaining part of the league safely. We have contacted all the clubs, and we are working continuously to keep the bio-secure bubble intact. We will issue a notice to Mohammedan to ensure that such an incident doesn't take place again. And at the same time, we hope the tournament will go ahead successfully," Kazi Inam added. 

The incident took place on June 4 ahead of Mohammedan's third game of the league against Prime Bank Cricket Club on June 5.

Most of the players of Mohammedan were at the academy ground in Mirpur, but Shakib took part in a net session at the outdoor of the indoor practice facilities. 

He was accompanied by Mohammedan coaching staff member Mehrab Hossain, team manager Sazzad Ahmed and at least four net bowlers.

There were two bowlers who are parts of the Mohammedan squad, and two were invited by Nasir Hossain, who works as a team boy at the national team. Neither Nasir nor the other two net-bowlers are part of the bio-secure bubble. 

On June 5, BCB announced that they would investigate a potential breach of the bio-secure bubble during the Mohammedan's practice session. 

Ahead of the league hits the ground, Ali Hossain, had said that any breach of the bio-secure bubble will result in heavy punishment.

While talking to the media on May 27, he said, "We will observe the bio-secure bubble closely. If any breach comes up, we will take the action accordingly. It might see cut off the points of the clubs who would involve in such activities."

All the players, coaching staff members and club officials, who are participants in Dhaka League, are being accommodated in some luxurious hotels in the capital aiming to keep them safe from exposing to the deadly coronavirus.

BCB is spending more than Tk 5 crores to establish this bio-secure bubble, as BCB officials earlier stated. 

Due to the Covid-19 situation, the last season of the Dhaka League was suspended. So the board came to host this season of the league maintaining a strict bio-secure bubble.